Saturday:Great Day of Fellowship and Faith

The Gornesti church held their first fellowship day beginning at 11AM. Over 40 people participated in a great day designed to strengthen relationships in the new church and enjoy being together. Attila Toth began the morning with signing and prayer. Soon, the serious work of cooking over 200 mici (a Romanian specialty—best described as a spicy, fresh ground meat, skinless sausage cooked like hamburgers) and grilled fresh pork. Istvan, Sandor, and I cooked using sign language. After a shaking start, we got serious. This was the first time that I had grilled out in a sleet and rain storm. Romanian sleet was much bigger than what I am used too in the southern US. The ice seemed much closer to hail than sleet—but it was cold. Eventually the sun came out and Attila joined in a relief effort cooking mici. With bread, mustard, pickled vegetables, and homemade potato salads this was a feast. The emphasis was on meat. How could we not have a good time? We were eating, singing, laughing, cooking, talking, and gesturing. I had the privilege of introducing the group to a first—playing a game together. The relay game proved every exciting and competitive for the first timers. We had a great time. Hopefully, I can figure out how to post the video on the website after I return home. The fellowship day ended with a study on building and strengthening relationships in the church. This was a great day.

With just a few minutes between fellowship at Gornest and evangelistic meetings at Apalina with the gypsy mission, we got quick “grease release” rise offs and headed out the door again. The meeting at Apalina was a great experience of the movement of God. The gypsies with Attila leading sang with great enthusiasm and joy. I think this is what I enjoy most. Following the preaching, we had a time of prayer. The honest confession of sin and desire to be serious in their faith were powerful. After the worship, we visited the family of a recent believer whose wife has serious health issues. We rode and walked through mud and rocks to visit with them. She said that she wanted to follow Jesus Christ. In a one room house where the “poor” section of Apalina begins she knelt in prayer before friends and family and committed her life to Christ. The presence of the Spirit of God was so real. I felt as if we could visibly see its movement among us. In the rain and mud we rejoiced as we walked out down the street to our car.

Our day ended with a meal in the home of one of the finest Christian couples that I have ever met. Mr. and Mrs. Vass are members of the Reghin church and he serves as the leader. We laughed together and enjoyed a delicious meal. Our joy carried us home and the eager anticipation of another day.